The issue of the dilapidated Thomasville Furniture Industries building may no longer be an issue after this fall.

The Thomasville City Council this week heard an update on the abandoned building after having worked with the building’s owner — Randolph Bank — for months in an effort to get the property demolished or improved. Ownership of the dilapidated plant on Fisher Ferry Street has changed hands with hopes that the demolition will be completed by the end of this Fall.

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Jeff Schwartz, the previous owner, has acquired the property back, after Carter Bank, out of Virginia, fronted the money for the purchase.

“That transaction has been closed, and he (Schwartz) now has (ownership) of the building,” said Councilman Scott Styers. “At this point, we will be dealing with him when we have an issue about the property.”

The TFI Plant B building, at 310 Fisher Ferry St., has been sitting vacant on the 7-acre property for years. Council members have been worried that homeless people will try to find shelter in the abandoned building and have complained about the building being an eyesore.

The property deed was acquired by Randolph Bank in May 2011 and the council was hoping to be able to work with them for the demolition. The estimated cost of demolition is $400,000, which would include the complete demolition and removal of the materials.

“We have a verbal promise, from a representative at Schwartz properties, that Schwartz will have the demolition process started by August and the fence will stay up until the demolition is done,” said Planning Director Ken Hepler. “If August gets here and no action has been taken, then we will pursue another direction. We are taking him at his word that everything will taken care of.”

After months of debate, the city is not taking any chances on having to start back at the beginning of the condemnation process and has obtained permission from the court that will allow the city to inform any potential new property owner that there is a condemnation order on the site.